Broom-sewing machine.



O. C. PICKENS.

BROOM SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.9. 1915.

1,200,230. Patented 00h 3,1916.

' Jmmvbox W CZW W UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEE oE.

OSCAR c. PICKENS, OF CHIIiLICO'lI-IE, OHIO.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OSCAR C. PICKENS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chillicothe, in the county of Ross and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Broom-Sewing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to broom sewing machines and has particular reference to the stitching mechanism Heretofore, it has been customary to sever the ends of the twine used in forming the stitchings for the upper portion of the broom by hand, at the completion of the stitching operation. This manual operation necessarily involved the constant attention of an attendant and also consumed considerable time.

My invention contemplates broadly the provision of a mechanism whereby the twine used in the stitching operation, is automatically severed at the end of the stitching op eration.

A further object of my invention resides in a peculiar construction of needle where by this stitching twine may be automatically severed as above related. 7

The preferred embodiment of my invention 'is shown in the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing my invention in solid lines. Fig. 2 is a front view of the structure shown 'in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the manner of mounting the needle. Fig. 4 is a detail view in section of the needle itself showing the eye closer in one position. Fig.

is a similar view showing the eye. closer in another position, and, Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 4.

In these drawings, I have not attempted to show the general mechanism of a broom sewing machine, the present drawings being confined to a sufficient showing giving the application of my improvement. In these several views, the broom carrying portion or vise is shown at 1, it being understood that in a broom sewing machine, this vise'moves from the position shown in Fig. 1 toward the left by a gradual .movement. During this movement toward the left, a pair of needles, one of which is shown at 2 carriesv a thread through the broom straws to form Specification of Letters Patent.

of these machines;

BEooM-sEwINe MACHINE.

Patented Oct. 3, 1916.

Application filed August 9, 1915. Serial No. 44,568.

4 and is extended rearwardly to slidably pass through an upstanding member 5. The rear end of the reach rod 3 is provided with a stop of some type, preferably in the nature of a collar or cross pin such as is shown at 6, so that a forward movement of the vise will eventually cause. an engagement between the cross pin 6 and the upstanding member 5. This upstanding member 5 is operatively mounted in conection with a rotatably journaled shaft 7 by means of an ear member shown at 8. This ear member is rotatably attached to the upstanding member 5 and rigidly connected with the shaft 7, which latter shaft is also suitably journaled in the general framework of the machine shown in dotted outline. The size and dimensions of these parts are such that the pin 6 engages the upstanding member 5 just prior to the time that the last stitch is completed, so that by the time this stitch is completed, the upstanding member 5 will have been movedin a circular path by means of the pin 6. This. circular movement is also imparted to the upstanding shaft 7 1 which rigidly carries a second ear 9 at its lower end. This ear 9 is pivotally connected with a linklO as is shown at 11 and this link has its opposite end pivotally connected as shown at 12, to a second upstanding shaft 13, this latter shaft being also suitably journaled in the general framework. The upper end of the shaft 13 loosely carries a dog 14 so arranged as to engage the outstanding lip 15 on an abutment member 16. This loosely mounted doghas a rear wardly extending tail portion designed to cooperate with a depending screw 41, adjustably held in the tail portion of a second dog 42, which latter dog is rigidly mounted upon the shaft 18 above the dog 14. The

tail portions of each of the dogs is provided ber 17 and upon release of the dog 14 by The abutment member 16 the turning of the shaft 13, whereby the lower end of the screw 4L1 engages the tail portion 40 of the dog 14, this abut ment member is forced forwardly under the influence of the tension spring 18 so thatit is moved across the path of the reciprocatory movement of the needle 2, as is shown in dotted outline at the left of Fig. 1.

Particular reference to Figs. 62, 5 and 6 will show that the needle 2 is provided on its upper side with a longitudinal slot in which is mounted the eye closer 19 provided with a prong 20 so that the upper open side of the eye 21 is closed when this eye closer is in the position shown in Fig. 4. This slot is also so shaped to slidably receive a knife member 22, the body portion of this knife member being such that it will lie beneath the level of the lower edge of the eye 21 and the knife itself designated23 being of such size that it covers the entire eye portion when given movement past such eye portion. The underside of the knife member is provided with. a depending lug 24 and it is this lug 2% which engages the abutment 16 when this abutment is moved to assume the dotted line positions of Fig. 1. This engagement causes a retraction of the knife against the pressure of the spring 25 carried in a socket 26 in which the needle structure, as a whole, is rigidly held by means of a set screw 27. The eye closer is also normally held in its forward or closed position by means of a second tension spring designated 25*, which latter spring is also confined in the socket portion 26 of the supporting member 28. This needle structure is thus rigidly held in its supporting member 28 and this latter is pivotally mounted as shown at 29 to an actuating member 30, this member being actuated in the conventional manner, which it was deemed not necessary to show in the present drawings.

The operation of the mechanism thus far described is as follows: The needle 2 is moved back and forth in the usual manner and each time it approaches the end of its forward stroke, a lug 31 carried by the upper side of the eye closer, engages a suitable abutment 32 carried by the general framework, so that the eye closer is moved rearwardly against the tension of its spring 25, to expose the uppe open side of the eye in order that the twine may be threaded therethrough in the usual manner. This operation is continued until the cross pin 6 engages the upstanding member 5 to release the abutment 16 upon the turning of the shaft 13, which turning movement imparts a similar movement to the upper dog 42. The depending screw 41 engages the tail portion 4L0 of the dog 1% and inasmuch as this dog is loosely mounted, it is moved out of engagement with the lips 15. When this member is released, the spring 18 will cause it to assume the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1 and on the next stroke of the needle, the lug 24 carried by the knife member will engage it to retract the knife practically simultaneously with the eye closer. lVhen the needle has reached the forward end of its stroke as is shown in dotted outline in Fig. 2, both the eye closer and the knife will have been retracted and the twine threaded through the eye of the needle as is customary. On return movement of the needle, it is customary to close the eye just before the eye portion of the needle enters the broom straw, in order to prevent carrying a portion of this broom straw through with it. However, the knife portion 22 has been retracted a distance so that they eye closer may close the eye before the blade portion 23 of the knife passes the threaded end of the eye, it being understood that both the knife and the eye closer are movedv to closing position under the influence of the springs 25 and 25. The length of the slot 33 in the needle body, in which the lug 24 operates, is such that the knife passes the end of the eye when this eye portion is approximately midway between the two sides of the broom at the completion of the last stroke, the knife itself being again moved to the position shown in Fig. i, whereby the twine is automatically severed.

. In order that the. abutment member may also be automatically returned to the full line position as shown in Fig. 1, I have provided it with a laterally extending finger 46, this finger extending outwardly a distance to lie in the path of movement of an oscillatory arm L7, which arm is mounted on the shaft 48 and forms a portion of the broom sewing mechanism proper. This arm 47 forms the standard portion of an ordinary broom sewing machine and is timed to make one complete oscillation with each complete stitch formed in the broom straw. Therefore, this arm begins its return movement about the time that the twine forming the last stitch is severed by the knife 23, as has already been related. When the arm 47 then completes its stroke, this abutment member will be moved rearwardly by the engagement of the arm 47 with the laterally extending finger 46. In order that this operation may be effected very rapidly, I have provided the lower end of the upstanding shaft with an L-shaped finger 34 carrying a roller 35 at one end. This roller 35 is designed to cooperate with an arcuate trackway 36 carried by the side face of the pulley 37, this pulley 37 being mounted on a shaft 38 which is the shaft to which the power for driving the machine is preferably applied. This trackway is so located that a rotative movement of the upstanding shaft 13 is prevented until the roller 35 shall have moved off this trackway. I, therefore, construct the various parts forming the automatic severing mechanism of material which in itself is slightly resilient, so that the pin 6 will engage the upstanding member 5 before the roller 35 has moved off the trackway 36. WVhen this roller 35 does come to the end of the trackway 36, the various arms and levers previously described will be under a slight tension due to the pressure exerted by the pull upon the reach rod 3 so that the instant the roller leaves the end of the track, the pull will be sufficient to instantly cause a shifting of the parts to release the dog 14 from engagement with the lip 15, whereby the abutment 16 is moved across the path of movement of the needle. After the abutment 16 has been thus released, the needle will complete its last stroke, at which time the knife mechanism will operate as has been related, to automatically sever the twine after the completion 'of the last stitch. At this time, the machine is so geared that its moving parts will cease their operation and the new broom may. then be inserted in the vise and this vise withdrawn to start another cycle of operation. Then the machine is thus stopped, the vise is at its extreme left position as viewed from Fig. l and the arm 47 is in a similar position. During this withdrawing action, the spring 39 attached at one end to the general framework and at its opposite end to the member 9, will withdraw the severing mechanism to theposition shown in Fig. 1. When the machine is then again set in operation, the arm 47 will move rearwardly and in such rearward movement will engage the laterally extending finger 46, as has been previously related, to thereby automatically return the abutment member 16 to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, in which position it will be automatically latched under the influence of the spring 45, after the dog 42 has been returned to the position shown in full lines. The machine is then ready for another complete cycle of operation.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that I have provided a machine wherein the severing of the twine forming the stitches of the broom, may be automatically severed after the completion of the last stroke of one of the needles. This renders the operation. of manually cutting the twine unnecessary and as a result, consid erable time is saved.

IVhat I claim, is: I

1. In a. broom sewing machine, a needle for stitching a broom, a twine severing Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Chmmissioner of Patents,

means, and means for actuating said severing means, said actuating means being adjusted to actuate said severing means to sever the twine within the broom body after the completion of the last stitch.

2. In a broom severing machine, a needle for stitching a broom, a twine severing means, and means for actuating said severing means, said actuating means being adjusted to actuate said severing means after the last stitch to sever the twine and place the severed end within the broom body.

3. In a broom sewing machine, a needle for stitching the broom, a knife movable past the eye in said needle to sever the twine passing through the eye, and means for causing such movement of the knife after the completion of the last stitch and when the eye portion of the needle is in the broom body.

4. In a broom sewing machine, a needle for stitching a broom, a knife member mounted in cooperative relation with said needle and movable with the needle during the stitching operation, and means for causing a relative movement between the needle and said knife over the eye portion of the needle to sever the twine after the completion of the last stitch.

5. In a broom sewing machine, a needle for stitching a broom, a knife structure movable within said needle and past the eye thereof, and means for moving said knife past the eye to sever the twine after the completion of the last stitch.

6. In a broom sewing machine, a reciprocable needle for stitching a broom, a knife structure movable within said needle and past the eye thereof, a lug projecting from said structure, an abutment for said lug normally inhnoperative position, and means for moving said abutment into the path of movement of said lug at the time said needle makes its last stitch.

7. In a broom sewing machine, a reciprocable needle for stitching a broom, a knife blade'movable within said needle past the eye thereof, a lug projecting from said blade, spring means for normally holding said knife blade in a forward position, an abutment normally held out of the path of movement of said lug, and means operable to move said abutment into the path of movement of said lug at the time said needle makes its last stitch.

In testimony whereof I my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OSCAR C.- PICKENS.

Witnesses:

GEORGE BoRsT, J r., 7 JOHN J. Gnorm.

Washington, D. 0. 

